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Providence, Rhode Island 02912
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SPARK Students

For Accepted SPARK Students

Information for Accepted Students

Congratulations on your acceptance to SPARK!

A Note to Parents

Brown's SPARK program is a unique opportunity for bright, motivated young people to practice managing their daily lives in a supervised and encouraging environment.  SPARK is an academic experience, designed to let bright young students meet their peers in a supportive, constructive, and fun environment. 

Although the program is selective, once admitted the students learn and live in a non-competitive environment.  In fact, we pride ourselves in creating a nurturing atmosphere where students socialize with each other and engage in group activities.  Students will be supported to collaborate and work together to achieve common goals. 

Each student will be treated with respect, and in return, we expect that students are respectful to each other, to their Residential Advisors (RA's), Teaching Advisors (TA's), and their instructors. 

While we are deeply concerned with the academic, emotional, and physical wellbeing of your student, we are equally concerned about the wellbeing of all the other students in the SPARK program.  In the case of offensive and/or disruptive behavior towards other students, we will contact you (the parents), discuss this issue with you, and search for a mutually agreeable solution. 

Each day, students participate in classes, co-curricular and recreational activities.  While our trained staff of Residential Advisors will supervise activities and residence hall life, we would also like to emphasize that students must accept responsibility for their own work and behavior.  Students who do not possess the emotional maturity to take responsibility for their own actions may not be suitable for SPARK.

Please note that Residential Advisors do not dispense or remind students to take medications.

Policies

Students are expected to review our policies.  Behavior that is unsafe, disruptive and/or inappropriate will not be tolerated. Students are expected to abide by the policies. Those who do not may be dismissed from the program.

Specific policies apply to aspects of academic and residence life, including class attendance, plagiarism, curfew, quiet hours, and disruptive behavior.  Students and their families are expected to review and sign the Code of Conduct section of the acceptance forms.  General policies may be reviewed in the Policy section of this site.

 

Forms for SPARK Students

Please visit www.brown.edu/summer/forms to review and download all required student forms.

Please note that individual courses may require specific forms.  Students will not be allowed to participate in those courses when these forms are missing.  Questions concerning forms should be directed to summer@brown.edu.

Directions to Campus


View Larger Version of Map at Google Maps

Arriving on Campus

On your orientation day, you will want to arrive for check-in at the Main Green, which is at the corner of Brown and George Streets in Providence.

Providence is a medium-sized city easily accessible by car. For those flying in, TF Green Airport is a convenient single-terminal airport about a 15 minute drive from campus. Logan Airport in Boston is approximately 1 hour away.

Arrival by Car

On orientation days, Students find it convenient to leave their luggage in the car and walk to check-in. Once you are checked in, luggage may be brought directly to your residence hall.

From the North or South on Interstate 95: Take Exit 22 to Downtown Providence. Continue straight on Memorial Boulevard, turn left onto College Street at the fourth set of traffic lights. Halfway up the hill, turn right onto Benefit Street. Take your first left on George Street. Parking is limited so park wherever you can find space near the intersection of George Street and Brown Street (Magee Street, Benevolent Street, or Charlesfield Street).

From the East on Interstate 195: Take Exit 2 to South Main Street and continue for half a mile until the first set of traffic lights. Turn right onto College Street and then right onto Benefit Street. Take your first left on George Street. Park on any one of the following streets adjacent to George Street: Magee Street, Brown Street, Benevolent Street, or Charlesfield Street.

From the NorthWest: Follow Route 146 to I-95 South. Once on I-95 South, follow the directions above (from the north and south).

Arrival by Train

Providence is served by Amtrak and Boston's Commuter Rail. The train station is a short cab ride to the University.

Arrival by Bus

Providence is served by PeterPan bus lines. Their Providence terminals are a short cab ride to the University.

Arrival by Air - Providence TF Green Airport

T.F. Green International Airport (named for Theodore Francis Green, Brown class of 1887) is served by many national and regional airlines. The airport, which is in the city of Warwick, is approximately 10 miles from the University. A variety of ground transportation is available from the terminal to Providence.

Airport shuttle

A shuttle will run every 30 minutes on the hour and half hour from TF Green Airport to Wayland Arch (27 Brown Street near the corner of George and Brown Streets). Students should meet a representative from University Shuttle with a "Summer@Brown" sign near baggage claim who will direct them to the vehicles in the lot. It is $15/student and University Shuttle, LLC accepts cash or charge.

Schedule

Arrivals

Sunday 8am - 5pm | TF Green Airport - Wayland Arch

Departures

Friday 1 - 9pm | Wayland Arch - TF Green Airport

Late Departures

Saturday 6 - 10am Wayland Arch - TF Green Airport

If you need transportation outside of these hours, please plan on taking a cab or contact University Shuttle, LLC at 401-228-8588 in advance of your planned arrival to determine if they can assist you.

Arrival by Air - Boston Logan Airport

If you are arriving via airplane at Logan Airport in Boston, Massachusetts (www.massport.com) please take Peter Pan Bus to Providence (approximately a one hour and thirty minute ride). Visit the Peter Pan Bus/Logan Airport website for complete information on schedules and ticket purchasing.*Please note, after arriving into Peter Pan Bus Terminal in Providence, you will need to contact a local taxi company to bring you to Brown University. Please see local taxi cab numbers listed below to set-up in advance.

Local Taxi Telephone Numbers

Corporate Transportation 877-231-2228

Checker Cab (401) 944-2000

Airport Express (401) 521-4200

Check-in and Orientation

Check-in for SPARK will be held on the Main Green, at the corner of George and Brown Streets. Be sure to leave time to find on-street parking, which can be scarce on College Hill.

Sunday July 7th and 14th

Arrival: Sunday 9am - 1pm
Students are required to arrive on campus between 9am and 1pm on the Sunday before their program starts. Students will be directed to the check-in location where they will receive their residence hall room keys, Brown I.D. card, orientation schedule, and a campus information packet.

Early Arrivals
Although students should make every effort to plan their travel to Brown based on a Sunday arrival, procedures are in place to accommodate Saturday arrival for those students who are arriving from long distances and need to work around flight schedules. There is a $150 early arrival fee for students arriving on Saturday. Permission for early arrival must be requested and approved in advance of the program. If a student meets the early arrival criteria due to long-distance travel, please complete the online request form. SPARK students will be placed in their own rooms on Saturday night.

Campus Tours

Tours for students and their families will be given at 10am, 11am, and 12 noon.

Orientation

Orientation for residential and commuter students and their families is offered on Sunday after students check in. An orientation for parents only will be given at 1:30pm. Parents will have an opportunity to meet program staff and the professional live-in Residence Director. During this time, the Residential Advisors will meet with students separately and lead ice breaker activities and review program expectations.

Parents will have an opportunity to say goodbye to their students after the orientation session and should plan to depart campus by 2:30pm.

Commuter students are strongly encouraged to participate in all orientation activities. An orientation schedule will be available on our web site.

1:30pm - Orientation for Parents

3:00pm - Orientation for Students Only

Departure Schedule and Closing Day Events

Friday July 12th and 19th

Parents and students are invited to join instructors and staff for a closing event on Friday July 12th (Session 1EA) or Friday July 19th (Session 1EB and 2EA) at 1:30pm in Salomon Hall 101. The closing event will be hosted by SPARK Program Director, Dr. Esther Zirbel.

Schedule for Departure Fridays

1:30 – 1:50pm - Closing event in Salomon Hall auditorium 101

1:50 – 2:00pm - Walk from Salomon Hall to individual rooms assigned for course presentations (this schedule will be distributed to parents at Check-in)

2:00 – 3:00pm - Individual course presentations for students and parents

3:00 – 4:00pm - Students check out of the residence hall

Extended housing is not available for SPARK students.

Students Attending Back-to-Back SPARK Sessions

Students who are attending consecutive SPARK sessions may stay in their original room assignment and eat in the dining halls. However, you may have a new roommate.  

There is no need for parents to come back to campus after completing the first course, although parents are certainly welcome to do so and attend the closing events of the first session. 

The residential staff will plan activities for students staying over on the Saturday and Sunday between sessions. 

What to Bring

Common Necessities

You will find in your room: bed, pillow, desk and chair, dresser, wireless internet and trash can.

Proper attire for laboratory-based classes

All SPARK students will work in laboratories during the course of the program, and must dress to meet established practices for lab attire. Closed toed shoes or sneakers and long pants are required in laboratories. Sandals, shorts, skirts or tank tops may NOT be worn in laboratories.

Optional Items

Refrigerators may be rented on Sundays during check-in

You may NOT bring pets, cooking devices or air conditioners.

Money

The cost of all program-related activities is covered by the comprehensive fee. However, students will need spending money for snacks & refreshments while on trips or on campus, toiletries, etc.

In order to operate laundry and vending machines, students must purchase a Bear Bucks guest card for $1 at any Value Port III Machine.

We advise adding money only in small increments, as unused funds are not refundable and cannot be used at the Brown Bookstore.

We leave it up to parents to decide if a student should have additional money during their stay. 

Personal Computers

Residence halls at Brown are wireless and wired for access to the Brown network and the Internet. Students who have the appropriate computing equipment and can configure their own computers are welcome to use the network during the summer at no charge.

For those who do not bring a computer with them to campus, several computing clusters are available. They are equipped with PCs and Macs, printers, and scanners.

Student Accessibility Services & Dietary Restrictions

Brown University offers equal educational opportunities and reasonable accommodations for the needs of qualified students with disabilities. Section 504 of the Federal Rehabilitation Act of 1973, reinforced by the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) of 1990, maintains that no qualified individual with disabilities shall, solely on the basis of the disability, be excluded from participation in, be denied the benefits of, or otherwise be subjected to discrimination under any program or activity in higher education. For further information, please go to Student and Employee Accessibility Services on our web site. Notice of the need for accommodations must be made a minimum of six weeks prior to the start of classes to allow time to reserve the available support services. Please complete a Disability and Medical Accommodations Form.

Residence halls are not air conditioned and do not have elevators.  Students who have asthma, food allergies and other medical conditions should also fill out the Disability and Medical Accommodations Form so we may determine if an accommodation is necessary.  Upon receipt of a completed form, a representative of the Student and Employee Accessibility Services Office (SEAS) or Student Affairs will contact the student and parent to discuss accommodations or request medical documentation.

Please review Brown University’s Food Allergen Policy.

Also, please complete the Catering Event Guest Allergy Form and return to cecourse@brown.edu.

Please complete these forms at least two weeks prior to the start of your student’s course. 

Contacting Your Student

Cell phones are optional.  If you provide your student with a phone, please be aware of your student's schedule and only call when they are not at class or scheduled activities. Your student’s schedule will be very busy and very tight.  If your student does not call, please do not worry – it most likely means that he or she is having a fantastic time. 

The most reliable and convenient way to contact students is via a personal cell phone. Please note that students spend the majority of their time in class and participating in extracurricular activities – during which cell phone use is prohibited.

For the safety of our students, visitors (including parents and family members) are not permitted to enter residence halls when the program is in session without the permission of the SPARK Residence Director.

Mail

Letters and packages for students should be addressed as follows: 
Student name
Brown University
c/o SPARK Program, Box 1864
Office of Residential Life
42 Charlesfield Street
Providence, RI 02912

Contact Us

Brown University
Continuing Education, Box T
200 Dyer Street
Providence, RI 02912
Phone: 401.863.7900
FAX: 401.863.3916
Email: summer@Brown.edu

Emergency Contact

If you have an emergency and need to contact your student immediately, please call the Brown Department of Public Safety at (401) 863-3322.